India needs a continuously improving, self-regulating, patient-centred healthcare delivery system

EHM News Bureau - New Delhi

If India is to improve its healthcare delivery mechanism and become a preferred healthcare destination, as pronounced in the National Health Policy, a necessary prerequisite is the setting up of internationally acceptable and highly credible accreditation systems. This was the central theme that echoed during the proceedings of the “National Convention for Achieving Excellence in Healthcare in India” held recently at Delhi.

Organised by the Indian Confederation for Healthcare Accreditation, the convention was supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, government of India and World Health Organisation. “Various studies and reports have, in the past, emphasised the necessity of such a system. Even healthcare insurance cannot gain momentum without accreditation. The creation of standardised benchmarks addresses a long-felt need in the Indian healthcare industry, which currently has widely varying standards, “ said Dr Akhil Sangal, CEO of the Indian Confederation for Healthcare Accreditation. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission, government of India inaugurated the one-day convention.

Primarily, accreditation is the process of evaluating and recognising excellence of healthcare delivery for whole hospitals, integrated service delivery networks and other such systems as well as professional activities. It is a voluntary process of development and education through consultation, participation, ‘professionalisation’ and independent peer review. Unlike certification, accreditation stresses on continuously improving by continually updating, improving and constantly benchmarking with the passable and attainable. Where on one hand, India’s healthcare professionals and facilities are comparable to that available in the west, yet on the other, we lack in credibility, which can be built only through accreditation. Once that is in place, India will surely become a favored medical destination among foreigners and NRIs, feel experts.

Elaborating upon the concept and need of accreditation system in India, Dr Sangal, who has been working on Quality and Healthcare Accreditation for several years, said, “Comprehensive accreditation addresses all dimensions of healthcare such as appropriateness, availability, continuity, effectiveness, responsive and caring delivery, safety and risk minimisation and timeliness. The Indian healthcare industry has reached a stage where such a system of accreditation is vital. The creation of benchmarks through peer-review by professionals is far more credible than externally imposed standards.”

According to Dr Rajan Madhok, medical director, South Manchester Primary Care Trust & Withington Community Hospital, Manchester, UK, “Ensuring good quality healthcare is not an option, it is an absolute must. India needs a comprehensive system for achieving excellence in healthcare. The UK experience is relevant for various reasons. First, the scope of changes covering investment in producing evidence, setting standards, accreditation (star-rating) of institutions, professional regulation, patient and public involvement. Second, the speed of implementation has been breath-taking, with its advantage of promoting necessary cultural change and acceptance of quality agenda, but with the downside of creating some initial confusion and major turbulence, a necessary part of every major change. Finally, the essential and fundamental role of the government in pushing this agenda.

The symposium was attended by around 500 delegates including representations from almost 85 apex associations from diverse fields including MCI, Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council, Dental Council, Association of Physicians of India, IMA, NHRC, ICMR, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, FOGSI, Trained Nurses Association of India, IRDA, Association of Surgeons of India and Indian Pharmaceutical Association.